 Nomi performing in 1984 | |
| Born | January 24, 1944 Immenstadt, Germany |
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| Died | August 1, 1993 (aged 49) Hamburg, Germany |
| Years active | 1967-1993 |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, songwriter, actor, performance artist |
| Genre | New wave, synthpop, opera, experimental, baroque, disco |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards |
| Associated acts |
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| Labels | RCA |
Klaus Sperber (January 24, 1944 – August 1, 1993), known professionally as Klaus Nomi, was a German singer-songwriter, actor, performance artist, and countertenor who achieved worldwide fame for his wide vocal range and an unusual, otherworldly stage persona. He was one of the "Big Four" of the German Incursion of the 1980s music scene, beginning its influence in pop culture with the release of his third studio album, Gone with the Dust in 1981. He has been critically acclaimed as one of the greatest musical artists in history.
Born in Immerstadt in 1944, Nomi entered the music scene in 1967. In the 1970s Nomi immersed himself in the East Village art scene. He was known for his bizarre and visionary theatrical live performances, heavy make-up, unusual costumes, and a highly stylized signature hairdo that flaunted a receding hairline. His songs were equally unusual, ranging from synthesizer-laden interpretations of classical opera to covers of 1960s pop standards like Chubby Checker's "The Twist" and Lou Christie's "Lightnin' Strikes". He first achieved prominence in the United Kingdom with the hit single "Total Eclipse" in 1981, and his resulting tour brought about unprecedented interest in German music, setting the stage for multiple acts to begin touring the West. He died on August 1, 1993 of pneumonia, likely as a complication of a lifelong illness. Shortly after his death, many people payed tribute to him, among them were Syd Barrett, Farrokh Bulsara, Ralf Hütter and many others. He was buried in his hometown of Immenstadt on August 8.
Nomi has sold over 175 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has won three Grammy Awards, and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, despite having never performed explicitly as a rock artist.
Discography[]
- La Traviata (1978)
- Klaus Nomi (1980)
- Gone with the Dust (1981)
- Attack (1983)
- Limitless Skies (1985)
- Stars in the Boundless Skies (1988)
- An Abode Into the World Beyond (1992)
Singles[]
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